Group
2 chicks are also captive-born. In fall the chicks are released
in the company of older cranes from whom the young birds learn the
migration route in a program called Direct Autumn Release (DAR).

The
International Crane Foundation
(ICF) is raising six young
cranes for the 2012 Direct Autumn Release (DAR) program. The young
chicks will spent several supervised weeks at Necedah NWR getting used to wetland habitat and wild cranes. On September 4, 2012 they were transferred to their release site at Horicon Wildlife Refuge. They were banded Oct. 4 and will be set free on the refuge near wild cranes October 29.

Group
3 chicks are wild-born. Their parents raise them and teach them
to migrate. This is the natural way cranes learn to migrate.
One
day, this flock will be large enough for wild-born parents to take
over. Then human-assisted migration will no longer be needed.

Nine
chicks hatched in the new Eastern flock in spring 2012. Two survived to fledge and migrate!